The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what legal fees have been paid by his Department in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and for what purpose payment was made in each case.
Mr Francis Maude
My department publishes details of spend over £25,000 on gov.uk
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff who were suspended remained on his Department’s payroll in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and on what date the official suspension commenced in each such case.
Mr Francis Maude
In line with the practice of previous Administrations exact numbers are not usually disclosed to protect individual privacy when numbers are five or fewer.
No staff in my department were suspended and remained on payroll in 2012-13.
Five or fewer civil servants in my department were suspended on full pay in the year 2013-14.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent by the Department on purchasing or maintaining carpets in buildings owned by his Department in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Mr Francis Maude
Information requested is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne Main on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Bangladesh on locating the British national Mujibur Rahman Mujib after his disappearance on 4 May 2014.
Hugh Robertson
Our High Commission in Dhaka raised the case of missing British National Mr Mujibur Rahman Mujib with the government of Bangladesh on 7 May. We have urged the Bangladeshi authorities to do everything possible to locate Mr Mujib and his driver, to resolve the circumstances of their disappearance and to keep us informed of all developments in the case. Meanwhile, the British Government is providing consular support to Mr Mujib’s family.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 196793, tabled on 25 April 2014 for answer on 29 April 2014.
Mr Francis Maude
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 May 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 4W. This was answered within the set timescale.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Question 196308, tabled on 10 April 2014 for answer on 28 April 2014.
Stephen Williams
[Holding Reply: Monday 12 May 2014]
Question 196308 has been answered today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Question 196666, tabled on 25 April 2014 for answer on 30 April 2014.
Brandon Lewis
Question 196666 was answered on 6 May, Official Report, Column 29W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2014-05-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the threat of a military campaign by Malian Jihadists in Chad; and of military action in Jebel Marra and Abyei in Sudan.
Baroness Warsi
We have not seen any reports of threatened military action by Malian fighters in Chad, Jebel Marra or Abyei. However, the UK is concerned about the vulnerability of fragile states across the region. For this reason, the UK supports efforts to increase regional co-operation on cross border threats such as those of the EU and UN. This approach is reflected for example in our integrated North and West Africa strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2014-05-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made by the leading donor countries, including the United Kingdom, in South Sudan in promoting civil society, effective governance and accountability.
Baroness Warsi
The current crisis in South Sudan has significantly set back the development of civil society and effective governance. As a member of a Troika (UK, US and Norway) we have worked closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediators to identify opportunities for civil society participation in the political process, and, in particular, the engagement of women, youth and faith group representatives. IGAD has proposed to both parties that representatives of civil society are present in the talks themselves, and assist in informing of the agenda.
We are clear that accountability for human rights violations and abuses will be an essential part of the peace process. We support the work of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and UNMISS (UN Mission in South Sudan) human rights team as first steps towards ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.
The promotion of civil society voices and effective governance will continue to be part of the UK’s development programmes to support stabilisation and peace-building in South Sudan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2014-05-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage the government of Pakistan to ensure a fair and just trial in the cases of Savan Masih, Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, sentenced to death for blasphemy in Lahore in early April.
Baroness Warsi
We remain concerned about these and other blasphemy cases particularly where the death penalty has been imposed. We regularly raise the issue of blasphemy laws, and their misuse against both Muslims and religious minorities, at the highest levels in Pakistan and press the government to ensure fair trials.
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised our concerns regarding these laws and the need for reforms during the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the end of April. We have consistently pressed the government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and our principled opposition to it in all cases and we will continue to raise both these issues with the government of Pakistan.